I pride myself on being open-minded about the various choices women make concerning childbirth — and life in general. Whether you prefer birthing in a serene tub in your backyard or you’re adamant about having an epidural, that’s your call. What truly matters in childbirth is that a mother feels empowered by her decisions, regardless of how things unfold (which, as we know, can often be unpredictable).
When I welcomed my children, I leaned into the more holistic approach. I chose to have home births attended by experienced midwives, and we refrained from bathing our newborns for a few days, focusing instead on skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.
Given that background, you might think I’d be intrigued by the rising trend of “lotus births” that’s been making waves both in birthing circles and on social media. For the uninitiated, lotus birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord attached to the placenta until it naturally dries and separates, which can take anywhere from three to ten days. This means carrying around the placenta, typically in a bowl or pot, wherever the baby goes.
To be honest, I’m baffled by this concept. While I respect your right to choose this method, the thought of having a decaying organ connected to my newborn for days is, frankly, unappealing.
Proponents of lotus birth argue that it’s a spiritually enriching experience that allows families to connect with nature in those sacred postpartum days. According to the advocates at LotusBirth.net, this practice encourages families to slow down and engage with the natural rhythms of life. But I can’t help but wonder why someone would need to lug around a decaying organ to achieve that sense of tranquility. It seems counterintuitive to the whole idea of simply “being.”
The added complexity of managing a newborn while dealing with a placenta seems like it would complicate an already challenging time. Breastfeeding might become awkward, diaper changes could get messy, and if you have other small children, the potential for chaos is elevated. It feels like an unnecessary hassle.
From a health standpoint, I wanted to know if this practice held any merit. Unfortunately, none of the lotus birth websites provide medical backing, and I couldn’t find any studies that support the practice either. I reached out to Dr. Emily Shaw, a pediatrician based in New York, for her insight.
Dr. Shaw mentioned, “There’s no substantial evidence supporting lotus birth. I doubt any randomized control trials have compared lotus to traditional births regarding health outcomes.” Moreover, she expressed concerns about infection risks associated with a decomposing placenta, echoing warnings issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2008 about non-severance births.
It’s crucial to distinguish lotus birth from delayed cord clamping, a practice where the cord is allowed to pulse for a few minutes post-birth to ensure that the baby receives all the blood from the placenta. This approach has documented health benefits and is endorsed by major medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
As for lotus births, they extend beyond these recommendations and cannot be presumed to have the same health benefits or risks. Call me skeptical, but I cannot fathom how carrying around a dried-up organ will align my chakras after giving birth. It sounds more like a royal pain than a spiritual journey.
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In summary, while lotus births may resonate with some, they seem impractical and unsupported by medical evidence. If you’re contemplating childbirth practices, it’s always best to prioritize safety and comfort.